Marilyn H. Lierz, 89, of Gladstone, Missouri, passed away on July 14, 2025. Marilyn was born on August 3, 1935 in Seneca, Kansas and lived in Kansas City her entire adult life. She was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for over 60 years, where she spent many hours volunteering for the St. Patrick’s Food Pantry and for the Altar & Rosary Society; so many of her friends were made through her time at St. Pat’s. She always highly valued education, and often volunteered at a local school, helping tutor kids who were falling behind. She liked to read and was never without a book beside her chair. She spent countless hours drilling her children on math tables, teaching them to read, going over spelling words (far more than the ones that would come home from school) and she was always incredibly proud of their academic achievements.
It’s hard to describe Marilyn without describing her dedication to her family. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was always a great ear, listening intently to story after story about her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and she was always firmly on their side. While raising her family, she was the epitome of a caring mother and wife. She cooked dinner 364 nights a year (going out only for her birthday), packed lunches, kept a meticulously organized house and was always there to lend a hand with anything her family or friends might need. Her greatest achievement in life was seeing the success of her family.
Marilyn was very intelligent, and received a scholarship to attend business school; a rare achievement for a woman at that time. After attending business school, she moved to Kansas City and worked for Pitney Bowes before leaving to raise her family. Her greatest skill, however, was as an amazing seamstress. She did this professionally, making beautiful custom clothing and household accessories for many wonderful clients. Her children remember that she made every piece of clothing they owned; even making custom patterns for specific clothing they would request.
Marilyn is survived by her four children, Cindy Kitchen, Carol (Alec) Wood, Linda (Jim) Sheedy and Randy (Jayanne) Lierz. In addition, she is survived by one sister, Araline Spielman; as well as seven grandchildren, Allison and John Wood; Brandon, Kyle (Alex) and Stacey Kitchen; and Anna and Ava Sheedy; and three great-grandchildren, Everett, Reid and Hudson Kitchen; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Marilyn was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Vern; siblings, Adelaide, Evelyn, Emmett, Ralph, Leroy and Ken.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1357 NE 42nd Terrace, Kansas City, MO. Rosary will precede the Mass at 8:50 a.m. followed by a visitation at 9:00 a.m. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.
Contributions are appreciated in Marilyn’s name to St. Patrick’s Food Pantry (mail check made out to St. Patrick's Food Pantry to McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 NE Vivion Road, KC, MO 64119) or the Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org/ways-to-give?form=FUNXHPRPDLE.
